By Nick Veronica

Canisius College announced today that it will add Division I men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track teams, effective immediately (so immediate, in fact, that the teams’ first meet is tonight, and the first event they’ll run in begins at 5:45 p.m.).

Cross country coach Nate Huckle will also head these teams, and he has been promoted to full-time status. The addition of these teams seems to be in order to assist the cross country teams, as the track teams will only compete in distance events 400 meters or longer (at least for the time being) and the school does not plan to add field events.

These teams will compete in the MAAC. Eight MAAC schools now sponsor track — Manhattan, Rider, Marist, Saint Peter’s, Iona, Monmouth, Quinnipiac and Canisius.

Canisius last had track in 2002-03 and cut the team when it cut football and tennis. I’ll have an update when I hear back from Canisius’ athletic department.